Alkalians

by Caleb S. Bugai

  Sean shrugs his shoulders and rubs his neck before telling Dante, “Hey man, thanks for the help there. I was certainly in a sticky situation, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “Yes, you certainly were. I don’t really care if this rumor is true or not at the moment, as I fear something more sinister is going on.”

  “Oh, really? What could that be?”

  Dante narrows his eyes at him and says, “I need your help finding Matt. Do you know where he is?”

  “Of course! He should still be playing cards.”

  They both go to look in the gambling room, but don’t find him at any of the stations. “Maybe he’s in the pit arena room?” Sean suggests. They go check, but he wasn’t there, either.

  “He must have left the building,” Dante says. Before Sean could ask, he answers, “I think James is up to something. Something bad.”

  “James? You mean James Iroshen, the boss student, James?”

  “Yes, that’s who I mean. Now listen, I saw him enter the men’s restroom, all wet and in swimming trunks, and less than a minute later, he comes back out, pressed in one of those rich suits and completely dry.”

  Sean fails to see the significance. “So? He changed clothes. People do it all the time.”

  “In less than a minute? Switching from swimsuit to the complex fabricated suit, without drying off with a towel? And not to mention he went into the dance room’s lavatory, rather than the changing room at the pool? Doesn’t that seem odd to you?”

  Sean considers it for a moment, and then blinks. “You don’t think,” he asks more quietly, “that he did that, you know, trick of his?”

  “He must have, because a moment before the swimsuit James appeared, I saw the groomed James enter the restroom, and he didn’t come out until the second James went in.” Dante glares at Sean and says, “James was separated into two of himself.”

  “Yeah, but, he only does that, outside of battle, for a…”

  “Deception mission. And I have a feeling he did that to Matt and one other person. Anyone you know who was at the pool?”

  “Uh, I think Rose was going to be lounging there.” Sean realizes what could have happened. “But what could he have told Matt and Rose, in different rooms, at the same time? What’s he planning to do?”

  “That’s exactly what I am worried about. James couldn’t have gone too far, so let’s go ask him. If he’s in the mood for talking to us.” Sean nods before they begin searching through the casino again, looking for James.

  ***

  Matt, alone in the wind-brushed fields, makes his way back to the cabins, a headache thumping through his skull. He can’t understand why Rose would be a ninja. The moment the Alkalian Confederacy was formed, thus ending the Age of Chaos, assassinations were no longer needed, so the states unanimously decreed them illegal. If being an assassin makes you a murderer, why would Rose have trained in the ways of one? Of all the martial arts to base her skills on, why did she choose ninjutsu? To answer him, James’ hint about Riaquen still finding a use for assassins comes to him, and considering the state’s military regime he does not find the theory farfetched. With a grim frown on his face, he can only settle on asking Rose herself the important question.

  Meanwhile, far away from him but about to cross his path, Rose, changed into her normal clothes, broods about Matt. Could he really be an undercover terrorist? It’s possible because no one would suspect a student having criminal, orchestrated plots to prepare the destruction of a major school. Perhaps the S.C. has figured this out, and Matt could be their attempt at it. There is only one way she could think of to find out for sure, interrogating Matt’s story for any flaws and then directly asking him the question.

  ***

  Dante and Sean plunge out through the doors of the casino, where Dante asks, “He wasn’t on your half?”

  “Nope, and I guess not yours, either.”

  Dante curses. “He’s probably long gone, then. The only thing we can do now is look for Matt and Rose, so they can tell us.”

  “Good idea! Let’s start at the cabins. They could be heading there right now.” They start trotting off when a voice hidden from view halts them.

  “Hello, Dante Goros and Sean Wyseinburg. What’s the rush?” They turn around to at last find James, emerging from the shadows by the casino’s entrance. “Where could you two be off to in such a hurry?”

  Sean spits, “YOU! What did you do to Matt and Rose!?”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Sean, let me do the talking,” Dante says, and Sean backs off with a pout. He then asks James, “Not too long ago, did you have a conversation with Matt Calamos or Rose Alamence? Or both?”

  “Hmm, now what could make you think that?”

  “Because I saw you as two people instead of one about five minutes ago, and everybody knows why you would be split when not fighting someone.”

  “Heh, and? What makes you think I spoke with Matt and Rose, of all people?”

  “You’re a boss student, which means you’ll be most likely involved in the latest big happening when you’re sneaking around. That means you must have done something involving Matt Calamos, the biggest topic of interest right now.”

  James looks impressed, and congratulates him while applauding, “Well done, Dante, well done. I confess, you’ve figured me out. But what do you think I told them, Matt and Rose?”

  “I was hoping you could tell us that,” remarks Dante. “But if you won’t talk willingly, we may have to make you reconsider.”

  “You’re threatening me for the information?” James laughs before saying, “A first-year intermediate and a freshman, against an elite senior. Who’s more likely to get hurt? Besides, even if you beat me, why would I bother explaining myself to you?”

  “Oh, I’ll tell you why!” Sean responds. “If word goes around that another boss student got beat by rookies, there’s going to be uproars throughout the entire student body, and there will be constant battles against the seniors, eventually leading to their downfall and pandemonium in all the classes for who will be the new bosses! But, in exchange for some important information, we may just keep our rookie mouths shut.”

  James sees Sean’s point when he glares at them. “That would only be possible if you did beat me, and I’m not about to let that happen.”

  “…Way to go, Sean, how do you expect us to defeat him?” asks Dante as he puts a palm to his face. “I was going to try threatening something else valuable to him, without a fight.”

  “Oh, really? Like what?”

  “Like, exposing how James uses and abuses every pretty girl he gets his hands on.”

  “…I thought everyone knew that.”

  “We know it, or at least suspect it, but have never been bold enough to bring it up to the authorities.”

  “Oh. Well, then, how’s that, James? Tell us what we want to know, and we’ll not tell the officers how you’re a womanizer!”

  “Hah, I don’t think so,” blows off James. “And besides, what could you use for proof?”

  “Did you ever consider, James,” Dante asks, stepping forward to stare down the taller senior, “what some of those poor girls, after giving their chastity and hearts to you, do after you’ve taken and thrown them away? Some of them come to me.”

  “You? Hah, and why would they come to you, Dante Goros, the smoker in the shadows?”

  “Because I am Dante Goros, second in line to the monarchy of the Saratu state, and some of those women also hail from Saratu. They come to me for guidance and affection, and trust in my nobility after yours betrayed them.”

  “In your nobility? Why wouldn’t they go to your sister, the first in line to your throne?”

  “James, everyone knows why they wouldn’t go to my sister. Half the time, she’s the reason you left them.”

  “…Again, well done, Dante. I’ve always wondered if you had any agenda in mind here at college, almost figured you didn’t, but now it seems I’ve underestimated you. Very well,
then.” He nods to them both, oddly smiling, and turns to walk away.

  Sean, at first impressed by Dante intimidating James, glances in confusion between them before asking, “Wait, what? Why’s he walking away? You just…”

  “He’s not.” Sighing, Dante warns him, “Get ready to fight.”

  “Huh!? What do ya mean? I thought we didn’t want to fight him!”

  “If he can injure us so badly that we are sent to the infirmary, I won’t have the chance to expose him, and not only would that give him time to prepare ways to make himself look innocent, but he would also always loom over us as the superior, his shadow threatening to beat us again.”

  “…You’re too good at this game, you know that, Dante?”

  “Yes, I do. It’s a curse, actually. And incoming.” When Sean turns to look, they both morph an instant before two fast objects collide into them.

  ***

  Matt and Rose, lost in their thoughts, don’t notice the other until their paths toward the cabins converge and they nearly bump into each other. Startled, they both hesitate before greeting, and move on together toward the cabins. For a long minute, neither of them speaks before Matt asks, “You’re an Elemental Artist, right?”

  Rose answers, “Yes.”

  “And your elemental type is plant-based?”

  “Yeah. Why are you asking me things you already know?”

  “Well, because I just learned something I didn’t know of you. Is your martial art ninjutsu?”

  “Of course! Couldn’t you tell on your own?”

  Embarrassed from her response, Matt admits, “No, I never did guess what your art was. In all of my training, and in the gym, I wasn’t told there was a ninjutsu martial art, so I’ve never heard of it until today.”

  “Oh, right.” Rose feels bad for snapping at him and agrees, “Ninjutsu isn’t a very common art of battle, so it’s hardly even mentioned. But yes, I specialize in it.”

  “Uh huh. So, how good are you at it?”

  Relieved to talk about it, instead of more pressing concerns, Rose says, “Very good, actually. I’ve trained in it ever since I was a child. In fact, my expertise isn’t limited to my battle morph. Not only can I automatically do the techniques in my morph, but I’m also capable of using them as a human. Not too many Alkalians share that condition, being able to use your art in either of your forms.”

  Matt slightly pales as he forms a grim conclusion from her statement. She doesn’t even need to be in morph to stalk and kill someone, and could it be that Riaquen had intended to make her an assassin when she was just a child? He keeps his fear hidden, replying, “Wow. That’s amazing.”

  “You’re not the first person to say that,” Rose says with a wry smile. When Matt doesn’t ask anything else, she finds her chance. “So, who are your parents, again?”

  Matt shrugs and replies, “Romulus and Anna Calamos.”

  “Okay. What do they do?”

  “My dad is a ranger, and my mom stays at home, occasionally going to town to sell sculptures or figurines.”

  Raising an eyebrow, Rose asks, “Sculptures or figurines? What kind?”

  “Oh, well, you see, when my dad’s home, he and my mom work together and create sculptures or figurines made of glass. Then, my mom either leaves them made of glass, or transmutes them into a rare and valuable substance, like diamond, emerald, ruby, etc.”

  “Uh huh. Does she have a license?”

  “License?”

  “Yeah. By national law, one needs to have a license to transmute rare minerals or jewels.”

  “Oh, right. Uh, yeah, I’m sure she does. I never thought of it, but yeah.”

  Frowning in response, concerned his story could be flawed from not being ready for that important detail, Rose goes on. “Anyway, your father is a ranger, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Where does he patrol, and how often?”

  “The Minari/Tirez border, for three months, before coming back home for a month.”

  “Uh huh. Who was the latest terrorist or criminal he’s caught, and what for?”

  Unprepared for such a specific question, Matt has to think on it before answering, “Um, he caught some guy smuggling blacklist items, or something like that.”

  “Okay. Can you name one or two of the items?”

  Matt finally snaps. “I’m sorry, Rose, but where are you going with this?”

  Startled a little from his outburst, she apologizes, explaining, “Sorry, I was just, ah, curious. One more question, okay?”

  “…Okay.”

  “Thanks. You’re a Dark Warrior, right?”

  Confused from her question, Matt nods yes.

  “And you’ve never heard of the Shadow Core terrorists being Dark Warriors, until you came here?”

  Matt says yes again. Did they not talk about this before? “Anything wrong about that?”

  “Well, I, I hope not.” She continues shyly, knowing how dumb it will sound at first, “You see, I learned for myself something important today. Something you may need to know, too. Have you heard of sabotage?”

  Matt has some idea of the term. “Yes, I’ve heard of it. Why?”

  “Because that may be the newest terror tactic of the S.C. They take one of their operatives, one nobody has a record on, and plant him in a small community. The insurgent acts like a friendly and strong-standing guy, winning respect from about everyone who meets him. Then, he starts throwing around concepts that rival the community’s general ideals, causing division and confrontation throughout it. Finally, when everyone bitterly opposes one another, the insurgent summons his terrorist allies, and they fall upon the community in its state of confusion. The person who everyone thought was noble turned out to be just manipulating them into their own demise.”

  Matt flounders from her chilling description. “You don’t think, I would do that, do you?”

  “That’s what I need to know from you, now,” grimly replies Rose. They both stop walking, about two hundred yards from the cabin sites. “Are you a Shadow Core terrorist or not?”

  “Of course I’m not!” Matt tells her, thinking her suspicions are becoming ridiculous. In fact, Matt still suspects her, so he remarks, “And what about you?”

  “What about me? I’m not a Dark Warrior.”

  “Yes, but you are a ninja. The prime reason for a ninja’s existence is to assassinate, and from what you just told me, I see you could do it quite easily!”

  In turn, Rose is shocked by the accusation. “Why would I want to kill anybody? And how could I get away with it?”

  “Well, you are from Riaquen, the only state that is always thinking, always prepared, for war, and I could imagine they could have enlisted you for a mission or something. All you have to do is get someone of great importance around here, or even me, alone somewhere and…”

  “Matt! Why would I kill you!?” As she says this, Rose already knows why.

  Matt realizes the answer, too. If she thought he was a terrorist, and there was no way to prove or believe him otherwise, than the only other choice she had was to take care of him herself.

  Rose, in her frustrated emotions, barks at Matt, “Well, I’m not the only one who could have a motive! Since I just figured out you could be a terrorist, trying to bring about the destruction of the school…”

  “You don’t know anything about me!” counters Matt. “And destroying the college!? Why would the S.C. want to do that?”

  Once again, they both know the answer. They are trapped, confused, and paranoid by their implanted suspicions of the other. There is no way to prove who was right and who was wrong at that moment, their stress preventing them from thinking clearly. They look at each other with pale expressions before Rose slowly says, “Matt…”

  Matt, his voice rasped and strained, says, “Rose…”

  After several seconds pass by, silence between them except for the thumping of their hearts, they both morph and clash.

  ***

  After being ca
rried across the field several yards, Dante and Sean jump back from and look at their twin foes. They both have bird wings coming off the back, strong-appearing legs with raptor talons as their feet, thin armor suits, and a large, reaping scythe for each James. What makes the twins different is one has white hair, wings, and armor, and the other is his opposite, with black hair, wings, and armor. The James’ stare back at Dante and Sean, their blue eyes filled with a cold ambition.

  The Reapers begin the fight by rising into the air, floating off to opposite sides on a few wing flaps, and swooping down toward Sean and Dante, the scythes raised to attack. Adrenaline kicks in as they react, and Sean dashes away, avoiding the white James and leading him on a chase, while Dante’s sword parries the black James’s scythe and swipes at his legs. The slash connects, leaving green bands of damage, but James is unflinched and jabs Dante away with the raptor claws on his left foot.

  As Dante begins a swordfight against the black James, his katana increased in size between his hands to better match the reach of the scythe, Sean continues accelerating from the pursuing white James, who keeps pace behind him. Sean makes a wide loop, the white James following the same path, and he heads back toward Dante and the other Reaper.

  Dante, despite his fierce concentration on dodging James’s slashes and kicks from sickle or claws, notices Sean coming, and quickly understands his plan. With both James’ distracted, Sean would attack the black one, and Dante would strike the incoming white. When Dante delivers a cutting offensive against the black James, however, he sees a devilish grin forming on the Reaper’s face, and he realizes what it means too late.

  As Sean closes the shrinking gap between him and Dante’s battle, the black James turns and swings his sickle in the direction of Sean, launching a sphere of blue energy at him. The sphere collides with Sean in his high speed, bashing his armor, knocking him off-course, and stopping his air balance so that he tumbles past Dante and James and crashes into the dirt.